Stacey Waaka
High Performance, Resilience & Team Culture Speaker
Overview
Stacey Waaka is one of New Zealand’s most respected high-performance athletes and an inspiring voice on resilience, leadership and team culture. A dual international in both Rugby Sevens and Rugby XVs, Stacey has performed on the world’s biggest stages — including Olympic Games and Rugby World Cups — where composure, trust and mental strength are non-negotiable.
Known for her humility, authenticity and fierce competitive edge, Stacey shares powerful insights from elite sport and translates them into practical lessons for business, leadership and life. Her story is one of discipline, belief and rising through adversity to perform at the highest level.
Stacey is regularly engaged for conferences, leadership forums, women in sport and business events, youth programmes and high-performance environments across New Zealand.
Key Speaking Themes
Performing under pressure on the world stage
Building trust and culture in high-performance teams
Resilience through setbacks and adversity
Confidence, belief and backing yourself
Discipline, preparation and elite standards
Representation, identity and leading with authenticity
Each session is tailored to the audience, event context and organisational objectives.
Career Highlights
Olympic Gold Medallist with the Black Ferns Sevens
Rugby World Cup Champion with the Black Ferns
Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist
World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year
Dual international representing New Zealand in both Sevens and XVs
Why Organisations Book Stacey
Stacey brings lived experience from the highest level of international sport. She understands what it takes to perform when the pressure is global, the stakes are high and there is no room for excuses.
Her sessions resonate because they are grounded, relatable and real. Stacey speaks openly about the challenges behind elite performance — the discipline, setbacks, team standards and personal growth required to succeed.
Audiences leave with a clearer understanding of what high performance truly looks like, and practical ways to build resilience, trust and confidence within their own teams.
Ideal For
Corporate conferences and leadership events
High-performance and culture programmes
Women in leadership and empowerment events
Schools, youth and community programmes
Sporting and coaching conferences
Speaking Style
Authentic, grounded and inspiring. Stacey combines powerful storytelling from elite sport with practical takeaways audiences can apply immediately in their teams, careers and personal lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Stacey Waaka speak about?
High performance, resilience, teamwork, leadership, confidence and performing under pressure.
Can Stacey tailor her presentation for organisations?
Yes. Every session is customised to align with the audience, objectives and event context.
Is Stacey Waaka available for virtual or hybrid events?
Yes. Stacey presents in person, virtually and in hybrid formats.
What types of audiences does Stacey Waaka speak to?
Corporate conferences, leadership teams, sporting organisations, schools and community groups.
